Saturday, October 05, 2013

Constant bickering could 'kill' MCA

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and his deputy Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s public bickering could lead to the demise of MCA, a political analyst warned.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Social Science Studies lecturer Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain said prolonged power struggles would not only drive people away from MCA.

“If this goes on, the party is bound to collapse. MCA has always been stuck in internal fightings.”

“It was so intense, that back in 1986, Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba became the party’s chairman for a while in order to calm things down between the president and deputy during at that time.”

In 1986, a power struggle between MCA president Tan Sri Koon Swan and his deputy Tan Sri Dr Neo Yee Pan almost paralysed the party.

Ahmad Atory was asked to comment about the latest feud between Dr Chua and his deputy Liow.

Liow had reportedly urged Chua to give up his party president post due to MCA’s poor performance during the last general elections.

Ahmad Atory also commented about a petition calling for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to censure Liow for his dismal performance as the party's election committee chairman during the last general elections.

He opined that Dr Chua should not blame others outside the party for MCA’s poor performance as the party’s fall was mainly due to his own moral issues.

“He (Dr Chua) should not blame others because MCA themselves face an internal leadership crisis following his ‘porn’ scandal. That scandal ultimately caused the shift of Chinese votes to the DAP during the last election,” he said.

However, USM political scientist Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian says both Dr Chua and Liow should step down and make way for a younger leadership, in order to save MCA.

“I think both (Chua and Liow) should step down, there must be a leader who can be accepted by all.”

“Constant fights between MCA leaders would only drive the Chinese further away from MCA,” the political scientist added.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng when contacted said such internal fights were part and parcel of any political party.

Is it time for Dr Chua (right) to step down as MCA president and could Liow (left) take over the leadership? (Picture by Hussein Shaharuddin/The Mole)

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and his deputy Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s public bickering could lead to the demise of MCA, a political analyst warned.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Social Science Studies lecturer Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain said prolonged power struggles would not only drive people away from MCA.

“If this goes on, the party is bound to collapse. MCA has always been stuck in internal fightings.”

“It was so intense, that back in 1986, Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba became the party’s chairman for a while in order to calm things down between the president and deputy during at that time.”

In 1986, a power struggle between MCA president Tan Sri Koon Swan and his deputy Tan Sri Dr Neo Yee Pan almost paralysed the party.

Ahmad Atory was asked to comment about the latest feud between Dr Chua and his deputy Liow.

Liow had reportedly urged Chua to give up his party president post due to MCA’s poor performance during the last general elections.

Ahmad Atory also commented about a petition calling for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to censure Liow for his dismal performance as the party's election committee chairman during the last general elections.

He opined that Dr Chua should not blame others outside the party for MCA’s poor performance as the party’s fall was mainly due to his own moral issues.

“He (Dr Chua) should not blame others because MCA themselves face an internal leadership crisis following his ‘porn’ scandal. That scandal ultimately caused the shift of Chinese votes to the DAP during the last election,” he said.

However, USM political scientist Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian says both Dr Chua and Liow should step down and make way for a younger leadership, in order to save MCA.

“I think both (Chua and Liow) should step down, there must be a leader who can be accepted by all.”

“Constant fights between MCA leaders would only drive the Chinese further away from MCA,” the political scientist added.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng when contacted said such internal fights were part and parcel of any political party.